Helleborus plant named &#39;ABCRD02&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Helleborus  plant particularly distinguished by abundant purple flowers, upright plant habit and a vigorous growth habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Helleborus×hybridus

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘ABCRDOT’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety botanicallyknown as Helleborus×hybridus, and hereinafter referred to by the varietyname ‘ABCRD02’. The new variety originated from a controlledhybridization conducted in February 2005 in Devon, United Kingdom,between female hellebore plant Helleborus nr. ‘RD369HK01’ (unpatented)and male hellebore plant Helleborus nr. ‘RD959NB97’ (unpatented). Theseeds produced by the hybridization were sown in Devon, United Kingdom.A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and forasexual propagation in Devon, United Kingdom.

‘ABCRD02’ was subsequently asexually propagated by tissue culture inAalsmeer, The Netherlands for at least 3 years. The present inventionhas been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughsuccessive asexual propagations for at least 30 generations.

Community Plant Variety Rights (CPVR) for this variety were applied forin Europe on Jan. 25, 2012. ‘ABCRD02’ has not been made publiclyavailable more than one year prior to filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Aalsmeer and Boijl, The Netherlands.

1. Abundant purple flowers;

2. Upright plant habit; and

3. A vigorous growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This Helleborus plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage ofthe plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photograph is of a whole plantabout one-year-old, grown indoors in a glass covered greenhouse inBoijl, The Netherlands and Aalsmeer, The Netherlands.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘ABCRD02’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inAalsmeer and Boijl, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken onone-year-old plants grown indoors. Color readings were taken underartificial light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. ColorChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2005).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Ranunculaceae.        -   Genus and species.—Helleborus×hybridus.        -   Common name.—Christmas Rose.        -   Variety name.—‘ABCRD02’.-   Plant:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and vigorous.        -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation by tissue culture.        -   Height.—25.0 cm to 35.0 cm.        -   Width.—25.0 cm.        -   Time to initiate roots.—6 weeks.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 3 months.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—3 months.-   Stems:    -   -   Shape.—Compact.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—2.0 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.1 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 139A.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type.—Palmately compound.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Length.—20.0 cm to 25.0 cm.        -   Width.—15.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate to lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Lanceolate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 139A Lower surface:            RHS 147A Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 139A Lower surface:            RHS 147A.        -   Venation pattern.—Longitudinal.        -   Venation color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 137C.        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Petiole.—Length: 20.0 cm Diameter: 0.6 cm Color: RHS 147A            and RHS 184B Texture: Smooth.        -   Petiolule.—Length: 1.5 cm Diameter: 0.5 cm Color: RHS 147A            and RHS 183C Texture: Smooth.        -   Stipules.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Loosely branched cymes.        -   Shape.—Loosely branched.        -   Self cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.        -   Flowering habit.—Vertical facing flowers above the foliage.        -   Flowering season.—January through March.        -   Quantity of inflorescence on the plant.—8 to 10.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence on the plant.—At least 2            months.        -   Diameter.—15.0 cm.        -   Depth (height).—25.0 cm to 30.0 cm.-   Bud:    -   -   Height.—2.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—RHS N79C.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Bracts:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Quantity per inflorescence.—2 to 10.        -   Length.—3.0 cm to 8.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.0 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Ovate.        -   Margin.—Smooth.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A Lower surface: RHS 147A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—15.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 187B.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—4.0 cm to 10.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—RHS 187B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Shape.—Orbicular.        -   Length.—4.0 cm.        -   Width.—3.0 cm.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Smooth.        -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS N79C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Approximately 60 Color: RHS            155D Filament length: 1.0 cm Filament width: 0.05 cm.        -   Anthers.—Shape: Ovate Length: 0.2 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color:            RHS 157B Pollen amount: Sparse Pollen color: RHS 157B.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Tuberculate Length:            2.5 cm Width: 0.1 cm Color: RHS N79C.        -   Stigma.—Length: 0.2 cm Width: 0.05 cm Color: RHS N79C.        -   Ovary.—Shape: Ovate Color: RHS 139A.-   Fruit and seed set: None observed-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility observed-   Physiological characteristics: Frost tolerant to 15° C.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘ABCRD02’ differs from Helleborus variety ‘ABCRD01’ (U.S. Plant patentapplication No. 13/374,191) in that ‘ABCRD02’ has a flower bud color ofRHS N79C (purple), whereas ‘ABCRD01’ has a lighter flower bud color ofRHS 70B (red-purple). Additionally, ‘ABCRD02’ has both an upper andlower surface sepal color of RHS N79C (purple), whereas ‘ABCRD01’ has anupper and lower surface sepal color of RHS 70B (red-purple) and RHS 70C(red-purple), respectively.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Helleborus plant as describedand shown herein.